Former governor Howard Dean to receive John Murphy Labor Award

On Wednesday, February 8th, Vermont AFL-CIO, Teamsters, and Building Trades will recognize former Governor Howard Dean with the first annual John Murphy Labor Award. The event will be held in the Montpelier Room at the Capital Plaza Hotel from 5:00-8:00 pm. Governor Peter Shumlin will speak at the event.
Howard Dean has a long record of supporting Vermont’s organized labor community. From standing with the nurses at Fletcher Allen, who organized their union almost a decade ago, to remaining a strong and ceaseless advocate for the early educators building Vermont Early Educators United-AFT today, Dean has consistently demonstrated leadership in standing up for working people in Vermont.
Wednesday will also be a time to celebrate the Teamsters recent decision to affiliate with the Vermont AFL-CIO. "We know that we're strongest when we stand together,’ Ron Rabideau, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 597 said. ‘With Ben Johnson at the head of the AFL-CIO here in Vermont we are more confident than ever that this is a new day for labor in Vermont. We are proud to stand together with our brothers and sisters in the AFL-CIO." The teamsters represent over 900 households in Vermont.
"When I ran for president of the AFL-CIO my platform was simple: bring the benefits of union membership to more Vermonters,’ Ben Johnson, Vermont AFL-CIO president said. ‘We know that historically unions are the ticket into the middle class for working people. That message resonated with the Teamsters, and I'm proud to stand with them to build a strong labor movement in Vermont."
Wednesday night Vermont's organized labor community will come together to thank Howard Dean for his steadfast support and to stand united in calling upon Vermont's leaders to support workers rights.
Montpelier. 2.7.2012